Fishing near me in Chesapeake : 10 spots within 25 miles
There are 10 mapped fishing venues within 25 miles of Chesapeake, and the closest, Lake Ballard, is about 11 miles from the city center. Below they're ranked by distance, with Virginia license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions Chesapeake anglers ask most.
Top Fishing Spots Near Chesapeake
Every mapped venue within 25 miles of Chesapeake, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
Closest first
- 1
Lake Ballard
11 mi awayPortsmouth city
- 2
Harbour Breeze Fishing Lake
11 mi awaySuffolk city
- 3
Oceanview Fishing Pier
14 mi awayNorfolk city
- 4
King-Lincoln Park Fishing Pier
15 mi awayNewport News city
- 5
Engineers Fishing Pier
16 mi awayHampton city
- 6
Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
18 mi awayVirginia Beach city
- 7
James T Wilson Fishing Pier
19 mi awayHampton, Hampton city
James T. Wilson Fishing Pier (formerly Buckroe Fishing Pier) in Hampton, Virginia holds catfish and trout, with bait, a bar and parking for customers.
- catfish
- trout
- 8
James River Fishing Pier
19 mi awayNewport News city
- 9
Little Island Fishing Pier
21 mi awayVirginia Beach city
- 10
Fishing Pier
24 mi awaySmithfield town, Isle of Wight County
Want more options? Browse all Virginia fishing venues or the Virginia fishing near me guide.
Do You Need a Fishing License in Virginia?
The short answer for Chesapeake anglers, plus where to find the current Virginia prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
License Info
In most cases, yes: a Virginia license before you cast
Fishing licenses in Virginia are issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid license to fish public water around Chesapeake. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so check the current rules on the DWR site before you buy.
The linked guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, where to buy online and in person, and this year's free fishing days.
What Can You Catch Near Chesapeake?
The most-recorded species across the 10 venues listed above.
What's Biting
- Catfish
- Trout
The most-recorded species across these venues are catfish, trout. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
Keep Exploring Virginia Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in Chesapeake: FAQ
There are 10 mapped fishing venues within 25 miles of Chesapeake, and the closest is Lake Ballard, about 11 miles from the city center. The list above ranks them by distance: city-park ponds, reservoirs, and public-access water. Open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your exact location.
Often, yes. Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs around Chesapeake are free to access once you hold a valid Virginia fishing license, and many states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) website or in our Virginia license guide.
In most cases, yes: anglers above the state's minimum age need a valid Virginia fishing license to fish public water around Chesapeake. Licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check the DWR site or our Virginia fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Across the venues listed above, the most-recorded species are catfish, trout. Species mix varies by venue, so check each spot's page for its confirmed list, or open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around Chesapeake.
For most waters around Chesapeake, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most productive windows: fish feed hard around the spawn and again before winter. Early morning and the last hour of light are the best daily bites in summer. Check the GilledIt community feed for what's working near Chesapeake this week.
Start logging catches around Chesapeake
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure and moon data. Free on iOS and Android.